Why Do We Gather?

             The gospel of today tells us mainly about the miracle of the rising of a widow’s son. However we can see the gospel in a different perspective.

As we can notice in the gospel reading, there are two different groups of people with different motives that draw them to be together. The first group, actually a large crowd, is led by Jesus who is entering a city called Nain. The reason of this first group to flock together is because they are so attracted to the teachings and miracles of Jesus. On the other hand, the second group, which also formed a large crowd, is led by a widow who is moving out of the city. The reason of this second group to flock together is because they are escorting the dead son of the widow for his funeral. While these two groups with different motives are moving in and out of the city together, a great miracle of the Lord is waiting to overwhelm them.

Let us see closely the person of Jesus depicted in today’s gospel and readily be astounded by his outstanding attitude. When his group is getting closer to the other group in front of him, Jesus notices a widow lamenting over her dead son. His heart is moved to console her. Jesus knows that the widow is really facing a hard time. The grief of the mother is so grave as we know that it is her only son, her only loved one, her only hope in life whom she can rely on, her source of comfort in her loneliness that she is lamenting over. With the conditions of this sorrowing widow, there is  no doubt that the Lord would surely perform a great miracle in front of these two groups of people, a miracle that would change many lives, a miracle that would remind them to whom and to where they shall go from that time on. 

“Young man, I tell you, arise! The dead man sat up and began to speak, and Jesus gave him to his mother. This miracle surprises all the people present. This miracle has surely reoriented the purpose of their journey. This miracle causes them to glorify God. This miracle has brought them to Jesus, the Performer of the miracle, the Way that the people should walk through, the Truth of love and the Life that destroys death. And then, do we really know the very motive why we gather in the church, during rallies and other similar occasions? Let us learn from today’s gospel.